ICSP3317 · Islamic Civilization & Societies
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
Despite simplistic depictions of Islam as a monolith, Muslims have always had remarkably diverse interpretations of their religious sources. Moreover, Islamic thought has become even more complex in the modern era, with a wide range of views on both the interpretation of traditional teachings and their applicability in the contemporary world. This course will present an introduction to this diversity within contemporary Islamic thought, focusing on some of the most contested issues: The relationship between religion and the state, the value of freedom of speech and religion, the rights of women and minorities, the various meanings of jihad, theories of Islamic economics," Islamic views on Christianity and Judaism, or the theological nuances between modernists and conservatives. Students will learn about not just the distinct trends within Islam, but also get a sense of their parallels within other Abrahamic faith traditions.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.0 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.0 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.7 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.3 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~3
hours per week
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Instructor options
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Across time
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Spring 2024
1 section